IHF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
lOCTOBER I, 1891. 
256 
TUB AMERICAN CEYLON TEA COMPANY. 
The letter from Mr. Elwood May to Mr. Leake 
of which our London correspondent has sent ne 
an abstract contained intelligence which will 
doubtless be welcomed by every member of our 
planting community. For it will be generally 
acknowledged, wo believe, that our present pro- 
duction of lea promisea to necessitate the opening 
out of fresh markets as rapidly as may be possible. 
The low rates now obtainable for it in Minoiug 
Lane seem to evidence that at the present time 
the supply is at least fully tqnal to the demand 
for home consumption ; and there seems to be no 
guarantee that, with fresh fields coming into 
bearing, wo may not shortly pass beyond it. 
Sir Arthur liiroh, who is prominently associated 
with our toa planting industry, is reported as 
having said that this need for new markets is 
becoming an urgent one ; and we are disposed to 
think that there can be found few who are likely 
to disagree with that view of our former Colonial 
Soorotary. R.lianoo has for somo time past 
been placed upon America’s furniEliing us with 
this new opening for our lea ; and the intelli- 
genoe wo h ave now received re -ms to promise 
that tha reliance is not likely to prove un- 
founded. Ever since Mr. Grinlinton paid his 
visit to the States and opened out negotiations 
with Mr. May, and more especially since the latter 
gentleman visited England and placed himself in 
communioation with the Ceylon Assoeiution in 
London, we have expected that we shoul I soon 
hear of some great step in advanoe being aobieved. 
This expectation eecma to be now in a lair way 
towards realization. Not only as newspaper pro- 
prietors outaolvea, but as part of the general 
ublie experienced in suoh matters, we have ao- 
nowlcdgcd how greatly success in the introduction 
of a new article of trade must bo dependent upen 
liberal advertising. In a country like America 
this is even more than elsewhere a fact that 
cannot be gainsaid ; and Mr. May aaems to have 
been more than commonly fortunate in securing a 
contract which will enable this advertising to be 
done without neoeasilaling any financial outlay 
either by the planters of Ceylon or by those who 
are so energetically exerting themselves on their 
behalf in America. 
Tha impriinatiir sought by Mr, May fiom our 
Planters' Assooiation and from our representative 
body in London seems to liavo been productive of 
the happiest effect, and the result obtained has more 
than justified Mr. May’s oonlonliou that the secur- 
ing of that imprimatur for his company would enable 
him to “ go ahead,” as the Yankees say, with 
rapid strides. As we understand wliat our London 
corroapondent baa oommuaioa'ed to us of what 
Mr. May had written, the compliance with the 
requests be made that bis Company should reocivo 
oltioial acknowledgment has enable 1 him to seours 
the co-operation of men of very high social aud 
floanoial standing in New York. The names of 
these parties, although given by Mr. May, have 
been withheld from us until it is known if that 
gentleman consented to their publication. But the 
main thing reported is that the proprietor of 
several very influential American papers and peri- 
odicals has consented to enter into a oontract to 
do 60,000 dollars’ worth of advertising of tho 
American Ceylon Tea Company, he to receive pay- 
ment in tho stock of that Company. Now 50,000 
dollats— or, roundly speaking, £10,000 sterling— of 
expenditure on advertising oannot fail to do much 
to advanoe the interests of tha Amerioau Associa- 
tion dealing with pure Ceylon tea, and were this 
advantage the limit of good things promised, wo 
should have much to congratulate ourselves upon. 
But this is not tha limit which wa ma y 
hope to sac reached. Tho newspaper propriotnr 
referred to has secured tho privilage of ex. 
tending tlie operation, should be sec fit 
to do so, to the extent of 200,000 dollars 
or £40,000. Indeed, ha has expressed himself as 
most desirous to extend his promise to thot ex- 
tent, but declines to bind himself to it in the 
fear lest, should ho die before he eould carry it 
out, lie would bo subjecting bis heirs to a very 
Urge liability with which he d oes not think it fair 
to charga them This, wo can all see, is a 
pcrfootly good reason why ho should decline to 
bind himself to the larger operation. It is, how 
over, perfectly understood that, if his life be spared- 
Oeylon tei will bi advertised throughout the 
United States to tliis amount of £40,000. without 
imposing the least charge upon our representative 
company in Aiasrioa. Wo need hardly point out 
— nor eoiill wa exaggerate— tho advantages likely 
thus to be seour- d. No wonder that Mr. May has 
written jubilantly on ths prospect before him, or 
that he expects in consequence soon to seek the 
oxeoution of largo orders for our toa and so open 
up fully that now market which tho oirouni- 
stanoes of tho time render us so desirous of 
saouring. If, further. Sir Arthur Birch and Sir 
William Gregory may bo willing to afford to Mr. 
May the agia of Iheir names, the l itter regards 
his position and prospects as being most fully 
assured. We trust that both Sir William and 
Sir Arthur, in view of tho interest taken by them 
in Ceylon, will bo willing to grant tha oonoossion 
sought of them by Mr. May. 
MR. MAY ANO THECIllUAGO KXIIIIUTION j 
ADVERTISING OF CEYIiON TEA IN AM- 
ERICA; SIR ARTHUR BIRCH AND 
NEW MARKETS FOR CEYLON TEA; 
ADULTER.Vl’lON OF COFFEE. 
London, Aug. 21. 
A letter received during tho present week by 
Mr. Leake from Mr. Blwooa Mayoontaina informa- 
tion of a kind which wa feel will bo very woloorne 
to you all. This letter is a private one, so it is 
not permissible for mo to give you its text in full j 
n ir, until Mr. May’s eonaent be obtained, to quota 
tho names of tha sever il parties to whose conjoint 
action with himaoll he refers. This latter opens 
with tho statement that ha had wired to Ceylon 
‘'Rutherford's proposals aoaapted.” This of course 
refers to those based upon thi application made 
by Mr. May for aid with regard to the Chicago 
Exhibition. At last wo presume hero that it docs 
BO. The latter, which is dated from New York on 
tho 7th Augost, then goes on to s»y that tha 
recognition of his euterpriao by the Ceylon Planters’ 
Association an 1 that of the Ceylon Assooiation in 
London had enabled him to obtain promises of 
active support by several gentlemen of high social 
and financial standing in New York. But beyond 
this Mr. May reports that ho has been enabled to 
conoludi a moat favourable oontraot for advertis- 
ing his company with a gentleman who is the pro- 
prietor of several important newspapers and 
periodicals. 
This oontraot binds tho contractor to advertise 
tho 0 .rap iny to the value of .50.000 dollars, stock of 
the Company to t oaooop'odas payment. That is 
as far aa tho oontraot ox ends oa tbo si Ig of tho 
contractor. Butlnrihot than this, and on the sido 
of the comp my, it ig oonoeJod that, sbou d the 
contractor ace fit to do so, ha oan at his option 
extend the terms of tha oontraot to ‘200,000 dollats, 
accepting stock of the Company to that amount 
